Jack and the Beanstalk

Jack and the Beanstalk is a classic story of a boy who is tricked into buying magic beans but takes advantage of the mistake. The copy we have at home is retold by Carol Ottolenghi and illustrated by Guy Porfirio. It is intended for upper elementary readers.

What I disliked:

It’s not my favorite version. The boy knowingly breaks the rules by stealing from the giant and ultimately kills the giant for protecting his own castle. However, it is a classic tale that I wanted to bring to life for my kids, and this book does just that.

What I liked:

The illustrations bring the class tale to life. The writer brings to the forefront the idiocy and danger of going against his mothers’ wishes. We purchased this while doing a unit on growing beans – we put a bean seed inside a tiny ziploc bag with a moist cotton ball and watched it spring to life.

Where to find it:

We purchased ours from Amazon Prime for less than $6, similar to the one listed here.